Royston Drenthe the real deal as Everton stroll into quarter-finals of FA Cup with victory over Blackpool

Considering his suitability for English football was questioned by no less an
authority than Jose Mourinho, Royston Drenthe produced a passable impression
of an exhilarating and effective Premier League footballer as Everton took
their place in the last eight of the FA Cup with this 2-0 victory over
Blackpool.

Big impact: Royston Drenthe scored after 49 seconds and set up another goal for Denis Stracqualursi after six minutes Photo: AFP

By Ian Millington, Goodison Park

11:00PM GMT 19 Feb 2012

Drenthe, 24 and on loan for the season at Goodison from Real Madrid, is something of an enigma. Confident enough to have secured his contract with Real, played for Holland, had a relationship with a Playboy model and launched a career as a rap musician, Drenthe also once asked not to be considered for the Madrid first team because of a crisis in self-belief.

It is a contradiction all the more glaring when he is in the sort of form he displayed against Blackpool, eager for the ball, keen to take on opponents, desperate to test the opposition goalkeeper.

After starting a game for just the 10th time this season, Drenthe scored after 49 seconds, set up another goal for Denis Stracqualursi after six minutes and performed with a general energy and verve that not only kept home supporters on the edge of their collective seat but also ensured Blackpool were constantly on the back foot.

“Coming to the Premier League is never easy for people to settle,” said the Everton manager David Moyes, who deserves considerable praise for his handling of a winger Mourinho believed would be unable to cope with the physical demands of English football. “Roy will say himself that there are a few things he needs to do better.

“There are a few things off the pitch. He needs to look after himself and he has to show me how much he wants it, as well as the players, because they want him in the sort of form he is. Possibly, he lacked some self-belief.

“I think that when he came, the crowd really took to him but he’s been through periods where things haven’t been quite as good. But there’s always something in Roy that makes us think he can get us a goal at the right time.

“He’s always done well coming off the bench, having impact in the game. In a lot of the games he has started he’s not had as big an impact but he had an impact here.

“I actually didn’t know that he asked not to play at Madrid but now you mention it, there’s a bit in him where he could need a bit of confidence, a bit of loving really.”

It is not difficult to imagine that necessary love coming forth from the entire Everton nation should Drenthe continue in this fashion.

Standing at just 5ft 5½ inches but powerful and with a low centre of gravity, Drenthe is difficult to knock off the ball and possesses a devastating acceleration that may be unparalleled in the league. His finish, from Marouane Fellaini’s lay-off and a second half shot which Matt Gilks acrobatically tipped over his crossbar also demonstrated his shooting prowess.

It was also Drenthe’s corner which allowed Stracqualursi to turn in the second goal from close range and, while Blackpool’s Kevin Phillips hit the crossbar from a free kick and missed a 91st minute penalty harshly awarded for a John Heitinga trip on Roman Bednar, a two-goal advantage in no way flattered Everton.

For Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, having seen a ten-game unbeaten run brought to an end, a home match with West Ham on Tuesday enabled him to hastily refocus his team’s priorities.

“We showed all sorts of character to almost make a game of it but we now need to concentrate totally on the league,” he said.

“Everything I tell my lads was emphasised by the opposition today. That’s where we’re striving to be. Can we ever be as big and as good as Everton, who knows? But if you aim at the stars you might hit the moon.

“I’m missing the Premier League and now my lads know what it’s about but this will plant our feet right back on the ground and we’ll get back on our horse on Tuesday.”